Garamendi helps introduce Invest in American Jobs Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) joined several colleagues in introducing legislation aimed at ensuring federal transportation and infrastructure investments support American jobs and domestic manufacturing Tuesday.

"By strengthening 'Buy America' requirements, we can create good middle-class jobs," Garamendi, who represents a portion of Lake County, stated. "When we make it in America, Americans will make it once again."

Under the Invest in American Jobs Act of 2013, all future transit, rail, wastewater or airport infrastructure projects financed by U.S. taxpayers would be stamped "Made in America" and crafted with American workmanship.

The bill is sponsored by Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), who used the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reconstruction as an example of the type of project his bill hopes to address.

"Instead of steel cast in the Alleghenies or roadbed segments assembled in Alameda, cars and trucks using the bridge will be driving more than 43,000 tons of steel imported from China, which supported 3,000 Chinese jobs and was financed by U.S. taxpayers," Rahall stated.

A number of labor and manufacturer groups showed support for the legislation, including the Alliance for American Manufacturing, International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Steel Manufacturers Association.

In part, the bill looks to strengthen and expand existing "Buy America" requirements as well as require federal agencies to justify proposed waivers of "Buy America" rules.

The legislation would lay the groundwork for how an agency could waive the America-made requirements, which would be applied in a manner consistent with United States obligations under international agreements.